14/10/2017 10:56Development of young, talented referees at the core of ERC Seminar in BledNews from the CEV

Bled, Slovenia, October 14, 2017. It is truly important to grow the next generation of high-level Volleyball referees and it is with this in mind that a seminar addressed to 20 young, talented referees is taking place this weekend in Bled, Slovenia. What is somehow exceptional, apart from the audience, is also the fact that three elite international referees – Fabrizio Pasquali of Italy, Susana Maria Rodriguez Jativa of Spain and Vladimir Simonovic of Serbia – are involved in the delivery of the seminar, acting as lecturers towards their younger colleagues.

Mr Pasquali is discussing the use of modern technology and how this influences Volleyball refereeing whereas Mrs Rodriguez Jativa is briefing her colleagues on psychological aspects and on how to best prepare ahead of the matches they will be officiating in future. As for Mr Simonovic, he will discuss with the attendees the duties and responsibilities of the second referee as well as the management of the Challenge System, which has been in place for quite some time, especially at all major competitions.

The President and Secretary of the European Refereeing Commission (ERC), Mr Luciano Gaspari and Mrs Zorica Bjelic, are attending as well, together with the Secretary of the European Medical Commission (EMC), Dr Zoran Nikolovski. Mrs Bjelic, who is leading the workshop, will focus her attention on high-level refereeing and the leadership / communication skills required when performing at the highest level in the sport, whereas Dr Nikolovski will deliver a lecture on stress management.

“It is truly something unprecedented to organise a seminar of this kind, where experienced, elite referees are addressing their younger, talented colleagues, who have immediately shown much enthusiasm and interest in all of the items discussed at the workshop,” ERC President Luciano Gaspari said. “It is also an opportunity to convey the new philosophy and modus operandi of the ERC, which has undergone many changes under the current CEV leadership. The involvement of these world-class referees shows our intention to modernise things and procedures and is testament to the importance assigned to the development of the next generation of high-level Volleyball referees,” he continued. “This weekend we are somehow laying the foundations for the future of top Volleyball refereeing.”

“I would like to thank our hosts from the Regional Volleyball Committee in Bled, ERC member Peter Koncnik and international referee Blaz Markelj, as well as the President of the local Refereeing Commission for their hospitality and invaluable help in the delivery of the seminar,” Mr Gaspari concluded.